Have an easier pregnancy
Easy, minimal list of essentials for a smooth pregnancy.
first & Second Trimester Essesentials
As a money coach, I was determined to track my spending throughout my pregnancy. I wanted to know how much money I was spending on myself and my family to prepare for our little one’s arrival.
With the pandemic halting travel, I turned my travel fund into a maternity fund and was ready to use all the money in that account to prepare.
But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I didn’t need to buy much during the first and second trimester. For the first 3 months, I barely felt pregnant; I didn’t buy anything special except for vitamins and a water filtration system since I live in an old house with lead pipes.
In my second trimester, I struggled with some pregnancy symptoms that surprised me so I stocked up on essentials to help me get comfortable and minimize pain.
Staying healthy during my first and second trimester
I got the combo-pack for my prenatal vitamins and DHA.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a kind of fat (called omega-3 fatty acid) that helps with growth and development. During pregnancy, you need DHA to help your baby’s brain and eyes develop.
*Talk to your medical team if you have questions*
When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately worried about the lead pipes in my house. Exposure to lead may cause a range of health effects and it can harm your nervous system, your cardiovascular system, and your reproductive organs. I immediately purchased a filtration system and then upgraded to a Berkey (Gravity-Fed Water Filter)
LEG CRAMP PAIN
I got horrible leg cramps in the middle of the night and here’s what helped:
- Stay hydrated throughout the day
- Drink Gatorade or another magnesium drink before bed
- Take tums before bed
- Make a banana/peanut butter smoothie before bed
DEALING WITH INSOMNIA
From 20-25 weeks, I experienced insomnia from around 3am-7am. I was so tired and cranky and eventually these tips helped me manage my insomnia:
- Stop drinking fluids an hour before bed
- Take magnesium before bed
- Wear an eye mask
- Get up if you’ve been awake for more than 2 straight hours
- Have a tea and then try to fall back asleep
Organizing the house
The first trimester exhaustion was overwhelming. I could only work 3-4 hours a day before feeling completely drained. Since I am self-employed and in a good financial position, I had the luxury of taking it easy. I took plenty of naps and rested as much as possible. I binge watched videos to help me prepare for this new adventure and made lists and spreadsheets to prepare the house and my body.
So many bloggers and vloggers suggested rolling 3-tier carts to organize their supplies and I got one myself. It was super easy to build on my own and once I got the cart set up in my bedroom for a portable diaper station, I knew I wanted one for the feeding station in the kitchen so I ordered another one right away.
The other essential item everyone raves about is a bidet with a handle. It’s great for cloth diapers (apparently) and for post-partum relief.
Getting organized during my first and second trimester
This cart was available at Walmart, Micheal’s and Amazon.
I kept waiting for a sale but ultimately it was the cheapest on Amazon.
Bonus: it comes in various colours which is nice!
We spent so much time researching bidets. There are popular brands who kept targeting us with ads but ultimately, we decided on a system with a hose so we could use it for cloth diapers. It’s easy to use and install after we followed some instructions on a YouTube video.
I am a big fan of diaper and snack stations around the house. I have a fully-stocked kit in practically every room in my house to conveniently breastfeed and change diapers.
I also stocked up on some other organizing systems for the closets, behind the doors, and entraceways. Baby clothes and accessories are so small and I want a way to keep everything organized and in place.
Third Trimester Essentials
Third trimester is when so many of my symptoms made me extremely uncomfortable! I was itchy, sore, in pain, and generally uncomfortable (mostly throughout the day).
I read that people have a hard time finding a comfortable sleeping position during pregnancy but that wasn’t really the case for me. I bought a body pillow and I hated it because I felt trapped and claustrophobic in it; instead, I just put a thin pillow between by legs.
What I struggled with was belly pain, acid reflux, acne and itchy skin! Oh fun… Here are a few things that made my life easier and more comfortable.
Getting comfortable during pregnancy
Acne
Oh hormones! My skin became more sensitive during pregnancy and I switched to all scent-free products. I’m definitely NOT a skin care or beauty influencer but I saw major improvements with Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotions and Cleansers.
Belly Pain
At the end of the 3rd trimester, I was in daily pain from the weight of my belly. My skin hurt, my back hurt and my abs felt sore and weak. One thing that helped was a belly band for added support.
Acid Reflux
Stock up on Tums – you will need them if you get acid reflux.
Without Tums, I felt like I was swallowing hot sauce every day, no matter what I ate!
Keep a bottle beside your bed, and in the kitchen.
Itchy Skin
As your belly grows, it gets thinner, and itchier. I struggled a LOT with itchy skin and one of the best reliefs was a flexible ice pack I could wear inside my pants/leggings.
The cold felt amazing on my skin!
Ultimately, I didn’t buy too much stuff during the 9 months. So many things were closed because of on-going COVID lock-downs and I just tried to use what I had.
For maternity clothes, I wore a lot of loose dresses I already had and borrowed some clothes from my mom. I also got a few outfits from Facebook Marketplace.
Everything on my list is something I would buy again for sure and recommend to new moms who want to be comfortable during pregnancy.
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